Pakistan Launches Strikes on Afghan Taliban Camps, Afghan Government Vows Retaliation
The Pakistani government announced carrying out selective military operations across the Afghan border targeting sites belonging to the Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic State. In response, the Afghan Defense Ministry vowed to retaliate against what it described as attacks on its territory.
Official Pakistani Statement
Statement Content
Pakistani authorities in the capital Islamabad reported that they carried out “intelligence-based selective targeting operations”. This announcement came as an official explanation for the recent military movements witnessed in the border areas.
Scope of the Strikes
The statement clarified that the operations targeted seven specific sites. The targets included training camps and hideouts used by elements classified as terrorist groups according to the Pakistani classification.
Details of Military Operations
Specific Targets
The strikes primarily included camps belonging to the “Pakistani Taliban” (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan). The operations also extended to include a local branch of the “Islamic State” (ISIS) operating in the border region.
Nature of the Operations
The operation was described as selective and preemptive, relying on recent intelligence. Pakistani authorities did not mention details about the military means used or human casualties.
Afghan Reaction
Defense Ministry’s Stance
For its part, the Afghan Defense Ministry issued an official statement through media outlets. The ministry expressed condemnation of the strikes and considered them a violation of national sovereignty.
Threat of Retaliation
The Afghan statement pledged an “appropriate and calculated response” to what it described as Pakistani aggression. The ministry did not clarify the nature of the expected response nor the potential timing of its implementation.
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